SS: iTunes

[StonedWheat]

I know a lot of people think iTunes is the best thing since casual Fridays, but iTunes screwed over my mp3 files so bad that it's gonna take me probably a month to fix the damage, even with tools.

It asked me if I wanted to keep my files organized when I added a directory (I think that's when it happened), and I said to myself sure, organization is good right? Well it might as well had a button that asked me if I wanted to rape my music directory, because now I have to rename and reorganize 3000 mp3's on my harddrive. iTunes just took all the mp3's out of my previous folders, placed them into new folders with the artist name, and renamed them with the tracknumber and the song name. This has got to be the most virus-like feature I've ever seen. I have a few hundred songs that I actually have to listen to and rename, because they had no ID3 tags. Nice job apple!

[billxp]

Don't feel bad I did the same thing. Maybe not as bad because I noticed what it was doing and stopped it before it did too much damage.

Won't ever happen again

[IrishSS]

Eh... I kinda like it. And the feature that moves all your music into one location...

[psycho-]

It was a PITA in the beginning. But that just shows how unorganized your music is because of the lack of ID3 tags.

Once you work through those ID3 tags, it'll organize music better than most other programs.

[caribiner23]

It was a PITA in the beginning. But that just shows how unorganized your music is because of the lack of ID3 tags.

Once you work through those ID3 tags, it'll organize music better than most other programs.

The ID3 tag issue is separate from the file organization issue. Whether or not you wanted iTunes to reorganize your directories, you'd still have to go through the non-tagged files to identify 'em.

I did the same thing where I allowed iTunes to reorganize my (very logically constructed by me, thank you very much) MP3 directory structure. Cheesed me off, but fortunately I had a backup. Now it's better.

On the iTunes suckage topic, is anyone else on the planet annoyed by the fact that iTunes creates tags that show up as Firstname-Lastname, and thus sorts the tracks when viewed by artist that way? I would much prefer to have tracks listed (and properly alphabetized) as "Cohen, Leonard" rather than "Leonard Cohen."

Freakin' Steve-- thinks he knows best.

Actually, I realize this is probably a bigger problem with the database(s) where all this stuff is stored out there.

[ray]

I reripped my collection of albums over a span of a year and have my music organized the way I want it. I didn't have to use itunes, musicmatch or any program to do it. Just some time to set everything up the way i wanted to.

[Mike_N_Ike]

Sorry to hear that StonedWheat. I would have made the same exact mistake if my friend didn't happen to be there at the time and give me a warning.

Seems like Apple in general likes to present its users with a lot of "whats" but not a lot of "hows." So if you already have a preference of how to do something - you're kind of out of luck.

[InfiniteNothing]

Huh, my itunes copies my files into it's little orginizational system. No moves or anything. Kinda space inefficient but I just delete them off the old location. BTW, what were you expecting it to do when it asked you if you wanted it to reorganize everything.

[StonedWheat]

Seems like Apple in general likes to present its users with a lot of "whats" but not a lot of "hows." So if you already have a preference of how to do something - you're kind of out of luck.

Yes I think I know what you mean. Like you have to already know how to do something before you can do it. I heard a lot about Mac's intuitiveness in the past, but when I first used my roommates iMac, it took me like a while before I could eject the CD from the CD rom. Actually I never even figured it out...he had to tell me to put the CD rom icon in the trash.

Also on the iPod, most people that ask me if they could take a look at it don't even know how to turn the thing off. I think that's a good example of what you're saying. Who would think to hold the play button for 2-3 seconds, or pause the device for a while to turn it off?

I feel that Apple products are simple to use, but they are absolutely not intuitive IMO.

I guess I'm just more of a PC person.

[InfiniteNothing]

I feel that Apple products are simple to use, but they are absolutely not intuitive IMO.

I guess I'm just more of a PC person.

They are intuitive if you aren't already tainted by PCisms.


BTW what's so hard about File-> eject, hitting the eject key on your key board, or option clicking-> ejecting... what were you trying to do?

[StonedWheat]

They are intuitive if you aren't already tainted by PCisms.


BTW what's so hard about File-> eject, hitting the eject key on your key board, or option clicking-> ejecting... what were you trying to do?

Not having a power button is not a PCism. If you give the average person an ipod and tell them to shut it off, do you think they would be able to figure it out right away? it would take a few minutes at least.

REgarding my inability to eject the CD rom, it was my first time on OS9, and I remember I was looking for a physical eject button everywhere, but couldn't find it. I dont' even rmember if I checked the OS or not. I think I was looking more on the iMAC itself for a button to press. For this, I could see as more of my fault for being used to PCs.

Please, I don't want to start any fights with any apple fanatics out there. I've heard stories about you guys!

[Nija]

Please, I don't want to start any fights with any apple fanatics out there. I've heard stories about you guys!

If you think those fights are bad, you should look in the political forums

[StonedWheat]

If you think those fights are bad, you should look in the political forums

Haha true. I don't even dare go in there.

But once I read an article where this guy received worldwide death threats for turning an apple G5 into a PC and posting pics of it on the web. Ahh I found it:

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1133/

My old boss told me other storeis about the fanatacisms of Mac user. THe company I work for sells and supports Timbuktu, so we get a lot of Mac users calling us.

[ialsohaveadream]

They are intuitive if you aren't already tainted by PCisms.

ribitch? Is that you?

[ufcrusher]

ribitch? Is that you?

Ha, I was thinking the same thing when I saw the pro-mac attitude. Whatever, just remember that this is the reason why there are choices in the world. The guy who bought the Gremlin also loves his Mac.

[Raider007]

user error constitutes suckage on behalf of a program? woah....

[StonedWheat]

user error constitutes suckage on behalf of a program? woah....

ah shuttup

[Jihforce]

user error constitutes suckage on behalf of a program? woah....

have to agree with this comment

Personally i like it, i have over 5000 mp3s organized with iTunes and I find it real easy to use. You never had to actually go into the directory for the file, just pop open itunes and click and drag whatever song you want into whichever folder, drive or what not. You can also burn your playlists into cds, etc...
you truly need to understand how itunes works in order to appreciate its capabilities.
If you already have an organizational "system" in place, use winamp.

[caribiner23]

If you already have an organizational "system" in place, use winamp.

Which is precisely the reason I hate iTunes' insistance on reorganizing my directories.

I use iTunes for updating my iPod, purchasing the occasional song, and ripping CDs, but if I want to play a single tune and I don't want to fire up iTunes, it's nice to be able to pull up a tiny program (i.e. Winamp) that does one thing well.

[Cubsfan]

Which is precisely the reason I hate iTunes' insistance on reorganizing my directories.

I'm confused. I must have missed the checkbox or something, because I use iTunes both at home and at work, and it's never moved any of my MP3's.

[speedracer120]

I agree with Stoned that it sucks when I had my music organized in folders by genre, group, then artist, rather than artist, album, track which iTunes imposed on my music folder without detailed notice. But I thought keeping things organized wouldn't require name changes and what not. But like we all figured out it did. But honestly I don't mind, because it has forced me to go and label and verify all of my songs, which was a pain in the ass with Winamp and Tan & Rename.